Ryder Cup: Europe begin singles quest for 4 pts for victory

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 1 - Team Europe began its quest for the four points it needs to regain the Ryder Cup in the 12 singles matches on Sunday.
    The Europeans currently lead by 10.5 points to 5.5 and need to get to 14.5 to retake the storied trophy, while Team USA need 8.5 points from the singles to get to 14 and retain it.
    No side has ever made up such a big gap in the singles.
    First to tee off were world former no 1 Jon Rahm against current world no 1 Scottie Scheffler.
    This year's event is the first to be held in Italy, at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club at Guidonia Montecelio, just outside Rome.
    The singles pairings are as follows: Jon Rahm (Eur)-Scottie Scheffler (Usa) Viktor Hovland (Eur)-Collin Morikawa (Usa) Justin Rose (Eur)-Patrick Cantlay (Usa) Rory McIlroy (Eur) -Sam Burns (Usa) Matt Fitzpatrick (Eur)-Max Homa (Usa) Tyrrel Hatton (Eur)-Brian Harman (Usa) Ludvig Aberg (Eur)-Brooks Koepka (Usa) Sepp Straka (Eur)-Justin Thomas (Usa) Nicolai Hojgaard (Eur)-Xander Schauffele (Usa) Shane Lowry (Eur)-Jordan Spieth (Usa) Tommy Fleetwood (Eur)-Rickie Fowler (Usa) Robert Macintyre (Eur)-Wyndham Clark (Usa).
    Among the VIP fans Sunday were Polish former soccer ace Zbigniew Boniek, tennis legend Novak Djokovic, singer Justin Timberlake and Prince Albert of Monaco.
    The prince was welcomed onto the first hole by Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagò, Italian sports supremo, and Italian Golfing Federation President Franco Chimenti. (ANSA).